Indian envoy Devyani Khobragade ‘heartened’ as US ends case over maid
An Indian diplomat whose arrest and strip-search spurred an international incident has had charges against her dismissed by a US federal judge. The judge's ruling on Wednesday said Devyani Khobragade had diplomatic immunity when she was indicted on charges of fraudulently obtaining a work visa for her housekeeper and lying about the maid's pay.
An Indian diplomat whose arrest and strip-search spurred an international incident has had charges against her dismissed by a US federal judge.
The judge's ruling on Wednesday said Devyani Khobragade had diplomatic immunity when she was indicted on charges of fraudulently obtaining a work visa for her housekeeper and lying about the maid's pay.
The judge did what the law required ... the rule of law prevailed
But the ruling leaves open the possibility that prosecutors could bring a new indictment against her. The US prosecutor's office in Manhattan did not immediately comment on its plans.
Khobragade's lawyer, Daniel Arshack, said she was pleased by the ruling.
"The judge did what the law required, and that is: that a criminal proceeding against an individual with immunity must be dismissed," Arshack said.
"She [Khobragade] is hugely frustrated by what has occurred. She is heartened that the rule of law prevailed."
News that Khobragade was strip-searched chilled US-Indian relations, and US Secretary of State John Kerry called a top Indian official to express his regret over what happened.